Egypt al-Azhar imam warns against polygamy an 'injustice' for women

Share this with EmailShare this with FacebookShare this with TwitterShare this with Whatsapp

Image copyright
Getty Images

Image caption
Tayeb has been grand imam of Al-Azhar since 2010

The grand imam of Egypt's top Islamic institution, al-Azhar, has said polygamy can be an "injustice for women and children".

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, Sunni Islam's highest authority, said the way it is often practised comes from "a lack of understanding of the Koran".

He made the comment on his weekly television programme and on Twitter.

After sparking debate, al-Azhar clarified that the cleric was not calling for a ban on polygamy.

He reiterated that monogamy was the rule and polygamy the exception.

"Those who say that marriage must be polygamous are all wrong," he said. The Koran, he added, states that for a Muslim man to have multiple wives, he "must obey conditions of fairness - and if there is not fairness it is forbidden to have multiple wives".